Police Say Driver Was Drunk

Gumersindo Santiago of South Marshall Street died of multiple blunt injuries at Hartford Hospital early Monday.

Trevor Vermont, 51, of 88 Newbury St., was charged initially with driving while intoxicated. Police said after Santiago's death that they may seek a warrant for Vermont's arrest on a more serious charge, such as manslaughter.

The accident took place about 9:30 p.m. Sunday near the I-84 overpass on Sigourney Street.

Santiago was walking with a friend south along Sigourney's west side sidewalk when a white van, also traveling south on the street, jumped the curb and hit him.

Santiago and Evelyn Torres had been walking from his South Marshall Street address to her Morris Street home. They were complaining about the heat and humidity when the collision occurred, she said.

``Suddenly this man with a van took him. I didn't know what to do. I started crying. I couldn't believe it. I said `Please, call an ambulance,' '' Torres said Monday. ``I could feel the wind behind me. I thought I was going to get hit, too.''

Torres said that the driver got out of the van, and that she could smell alcohol on his breath. After refusing to take a sobriety test at the scene, the driver was taken to police headquarters for further tests and arrested, police said. Police did not release his blood-alcohol level.

Police said they found Santiago on the west sidewalk of Sigourney Street, suffering from serious injuries of the head, upper torso and leg. He was taken to Hartford Hospital, where he later was pronounced dead.

``He didn't say nothing. He was unconscious,'' Torres said. ``I wanted to help him, but I couldn't do nothing.''

Santiago leaves a mother, sister and several brothers, as well as six children. He was not married, Torres said.